Saturday, August 29, 2009

Ancelotti praises 'calm' Drogba

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti thinks Didier Drogba still has his best years ahead of him.

The Blues manager believes the Ivorian striker has matured since he took over at the club, and seems rejuvenated after signing a new three-year contract.

Drogba had an indifferent campaignad an indifferent campaign in the Premier League last term, after falling out with former boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, but Ancelotti believes he will play a massive part in Chelsea's season.

"I think Didier has had a very good career up to now," the Italian told the Daily Mirror.

"He can do better because at 31, he's not an old player. He's a player who's at the right time to do his best.

"Physically he's very strong. He hasn't had big problems in his career with injuries. He can do - he will do, I'm sure - the best."History

Chelsea take on Burnley on Saturday, and it was against the Clarets in the Carling Cup last season when Drogba threw a coin back into the crowd.

The Ivory Coast international is also still serving a European ban after his reaction to the Blues' defeat to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, but Ancelotti believes the striker has improved his temperament.

"I didn't know him before," he said. "It can happen that one player, in the match, can lose his mind, can lose his control.

"But now, I think he's very calm. It's the past. I've seen a very good professional whose focus is on the team, on the play, and I don't think we'll have other problems.

"He is a very good guy. He likes to joke. But he knows very well when he can joke and when we must do the serious things.